Chief Planning Inspector in Bristol

Details

Reference number

Salary

£89,000 – £94,000

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum advertised. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the minimum advertised, transfers or internal promotions will move to the minimum advertised or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is being advertised at grade SCS 1. New appointments to the Senior Civil Service will be appointed on the terms and conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

PINS – Chief Executive

Type of role

Planning
Planning Inspector
Senior leadership

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Bristol

About the job

Job summary

As Chief Planning Inspector you will provide strategic leadership, professional expertise, and impartial guidance to shape and improve an effective, fair and transparent planning system for England.

This is a unique senior leadership opportunity to influence national planning policy, uphold the highest professional standards, and position the Planning Inspectorate as a trusted thought leader at the heart of Government priorities.

You\’ll play a pivotal role in shaping a fair, transparent planning system that enables major infrastructure, supports local plans and helps communities influence where they live. Our mission is clear: to provide consistently timely, high-quality and cost-effective decisions, recommendations and advice.

Working as part of our Executive Team, you\’ll drive innovation, forge partnerships across Government and the sector, and turn policy into delivery that makes a difference.

You\’ll also inspire and develop the Planning Inspector profession – building capability, encouraging innovation, championing excellence and fostering a culture of learning and development that sets the benchmark for the future.

Planning is at the heart of the Government\’s ambitions: delivering 1.5 million homes, ensuring local plans across England, and enabling 150 major infrastructure projects.

If you\’re ready to lead at the highest level in the sector and shape the places where people live, this is your moment.

Job description

Few roles in the sector can match this impact. You\’ll help shape the places where people live and work, ensuring a planning system that is fair, transparent, and future-ready. To be successful you will have:

Professional credibility – You\’ll be a Chartered member (or equivalent) of a relevant professional body and bring extensive knowledge of the planning system

Hands on experience – You\’ve worked on the most complex planning cases

Policy know-how – You understand the breadth of policy and legislation, and you\’re tuned into the big issues shaping the future of planning

Influencer and communicator – You can explain complex issues clearly, build trust and bring people together, even when interests conflict. Ministers, stakeholders and communities will see you as a safe pair of hands.

Leader and team-builder – You know how to create high-performing, collaborative teams and keep them motivated through change

Change savvy – You can steer big initiatives and make sure they land well, making sure they deliver real benefits

Your approach:

• You\’re a natural relationship builder: people trust you
• You care about service and outcomes for communities
• You\’re inclusive and collaborative, always bringing others along
• You\’re resilient, adaptable, and ready to tackle complex challenges head-on

For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.

Salary £89,000-£94,000

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum advertised. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the minimum advertised, transfers or internal promotions will move to the minimum advertised or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is being advertised at grade SCS 1. New appointments to the Senior Civil Service will be appointed on the terms and conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available for job share or compressed working hours, part time hours could be considered at a minimum of 26 hours per week.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people\’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based at our modern office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to office attendance. To provide senior leadership visibility and work with colleagues, you\’ll need to be in the office at least once a week. You will also need to meet colleagues and stakeholders in other parts of the country.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Capabilities to lead strategic and operational programmes and projects effectively
• Chartered member (or equivalent) of a relevant professional institute.
• Significant experience and proven expertise of complex planning related casework.
• An extensive and detailed knowledge of the wide range of policy and legislation, which is relevant to the work of the Planning Inspectorate, including a well-developed knowledge and understanding of current and future issues facing the planning system in England, the UK and more widely.

• Exceptional communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with a proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder relationships and navigate potentially conflicting interests to gain confidence of Ministers and the public.

• Excellent leadership capabilities to enable, develop and sustain high performing, collaborative and resilient teams aligned to strategic and operational ambitions and mission.

• Experience of effectively leading others through, and successfully embedding, impactful change.

Memberships

Chartered member (or equivalent) of a relevant professional institute.

Behaviours

We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £89,000, Planning Inspectorate contributes £25,783 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.

• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King\’s birthday. In addition to the normal